Palmyra Atoll (2005) | Palmyra Atoll (2008) | |
Airports | 1 (2004 est.) | 1 (2007) |
Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007) |
Area | total: 11.9 sq km
land: 11.9 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 11.9 sq km
land: 11.9 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC | about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
Background | The Kingdom of Hawaii claimed the atoll in 1862, and the US included it among the Hawaiian Islands when it annexed the archipelago in 1898. The Hawaii Statehood Act of 1959 did not include Palmyra Atoll, which is now privately owned by the Nature Conservancy. This organization is managing the atoll as a nature preserve. The lagoons and surrounding waters within the 12 nautical mile US territorial seas were transferred to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and were designated a National Wildlife Refuge in January 2001. | The Kingdom of Hawaii claimed the atoll in 1862, and the US included it among the Hawaiian Islands when it annexed the archipelago in 1898. The Hawaii Statehood Act of 1959 did not include Palmyra Atoll, which is now privately owned by the Nature Conservancy. This organization is managing the atoll as a nature preserve. The lagoons and surrounding waters within the 12 nautical mile US territorial seas were transferred to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and were designated a National Wildlife Refuge in January 2001. |
Climate | equatorial, hot, and very rainy | equatorial, hot, and very rainy |
Coastline | 14.5 km | 14.5 km |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Palmyra Atoll |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Palmyra Atoll |
Dependency status | incorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior; the Office of Insular Affairs of the US Department of the Interior continues to administer nine excluded areas comprising certain tidal and submerged lands within the 12 nm territorial sea or within the lagoon | incorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior; the Office of Insular Affairs of the US Department of the Interior continues to administer nine excluded areas comprising certain tidal and submerged lands within the 12 nm territorial sea or within the lagoon |
Disputes - international | none | none |
Economy - overview | no economic activity | no economic activity |
Elevation extremes | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 2 m |
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 2 m |
Environment - current issues | NA | NA |
Flag description | the flag of the US is used | the flag of the US is used |
Geographic coordinates | 5 52 N, 162 06 W | 5 52 N, 162 04 W |
Geography - note | about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation, coconut trees, and balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall | about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation, coconut trees, and balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall |
Highways | most of the roads and many causeways built during World War II are unserviceable and overgrown (2001) | - |
Irrigated land | 0 sq km (1998 est.) | - |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (forests and woodlands) (2005) |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (forests and woodlands) (2005) |
Legal system | the laws of the US, where applicable, apply | the laws of the US, where applicable, apply |
Location | Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa | Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa |
Map references | Oceania | Oceania |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of the US | defense is the responsibility of the US |
Natural hazards | NA | NA |
Natural resources | terrestrial and aquatic wildlife | terrestrial and aquatic wildlife |
Population | no indigenous inhabitants; 4 to 20 Nature Conservancy staff, US Fish and Wildlife staff (July 2005 est.) | no indigenous inhabitants
note: 4 to 20 Nature Conservancy staff, US Fish and Wildlife staff (July 2007 est.) |
Ports and harbors | West Lagoon | - |
Terrain | very low | very low |